Big participation in dementia workshop

More than 40 people attended the workshop on Dementia Care organised by the Kilcullen-based Home Instead Senior Care, and held in Fallons yesterday.

The event was for family carers, to support them in taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Those attending came from all over Kildare, and were provided with practical caregiving techniques to support them in their role of family carer.

These included suggested approaches when helping with personal care activities; understanding behaviour symptoms, and care approaches to help minimise actions; and learning how to start conversations for effective communication.

The carers were also told how to recognise ways to prevent behavioural symptoms in the future, and there was an emphasis on discovering ways to care for themselves so that they can remain a successful family caregiver.

Home Instead's Amanda Bohan noted that this is World Alzheimer’s Month. "We have clients living with Alzheimer’s or dementia so it was important to support family carers in the local community." She added that caregivers often struggle to understand the full impact of dementia and it’s easy to become overwhelmed. "We want to support them to provide the best care they can. We also want to help them meet other family carers and realise they are not in this struggle alone."

To register for a dementia care workshop or receive dementia care advice please call 045 484 623 or visit www.homeinstead.ie.